Electric plug clamp



May 7, 1946. E. J. LACHANCE ELECTRIC PLUG CLAMP Filed June 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 239265? Jib/awe y 1946? E. J. LACHANCE 2,399,644

' ELECTRIC PLUG CLAMP Filed June 4, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 6 0 3 4 7 f d Inventor 6 1 4 Ewes? la/akwzz/ae Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC PLUG CLAMP Ernest J. Lachance, Leominster, Mass.

Application June 4, 1943, Serial No. 489,672

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamps for electric plugs of the prong type and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for preventing plugs of this character from being accidentally or unintentially pulled out of an electric receptacle or loosened therein.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a clamp r holder of the aforementioned character which is mounted on the wall or cover-plate of the electric receptacle where it is ready for use at all times.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a clamp 0r holder of the character described comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby the device may be expeditiously engaged with the plug or disengaged therefrom.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric plug clamp or holder of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eificient and reliable in use, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in front elevation, showing an embodiment of the device in use.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of one 01' the slidable jaws.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of one of the jaw supporting screws.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 designates a suitable wall or cover plate for a conventional electrical receptacle 2. Extending through the plate 1, adjacent diametrically opposite sides of the receptacle 2, are screws 3 the shanks of which comprise flattened opposite side portions 4.

J aws 5 in the form of elongated plates of suitable material are slidably mounted on the screws 3. The jaws 5 have formed longitudinally therein slots 6 which are just wide enough to accommothe flattened side portion 4. Thus, the jaws 5 are secured against rotation on the screws 3. Spacers 1 are provided on the screws 3 between the jaws 5 and the plate I. The inner end portions of the jaws 5 are engageable with the usual flange 8 on a conventional electric plug 9 of the prong type for securing said plug firmly in the receptacle 2. At their outer ends, the jaws 5 terminate in forwardly projecting flanges ll] providing handles or grips to facilitate sliding said aws.

Thumb nuts I I are threaded for adjustment on the shanks 4 of the screws 3. Coil springs l2 are mounted under tension on the screw thanks 4 between the thumb nuts II and the jaws 5 for yieldingly urging said jaws against the plug flange 8. The tension of the coil springs I2 may be regulated by adjusting the nuts II on the screws 3. If desired, washers may be interposed between the coil springs I2 and the jaws 5.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readily apparent from the consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the jaws 5 are retracted or slid outwardly on the screws 3 to permit the plug 9 to be inserted in the receptacle 2. The jaws 5 are then pushed inwardly on the screws 3 and the inner end portions thereof are engaged with the flange 8 of the plug 9, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that, while not rigidly holding the plug, the jaws 5 exert sufficient pressure on said plug to retain same in the receptacle 2 and. to prevent loosening of said plug sufficiently to bring about a bad electrical connection.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric plug clamp or holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for holding a flanged electric plug in a receptacle comprising, a wall plate for the receptacle, screws mounted in the plate and projecting therefrom at opposite sides of said receptacle, jaws slidable on the screws transversely of the latter into or out of engagement with the flange of the plug, nuts threaded on the screws, and coil springs between the nuts and the jaws for yieldingly engaging said jaws with the flang of the plug.

date the portions or the screws 3 which comprise 2. A clamp for holding a flanged electric plug in a receptacle comprising, a wall plate for the receptacle, screws mounted in the plate and projecting therefrom at opposite sides of said receptacle, said screw including flattened shank portions, elongated jaws slidable on the shank portions of the screws, said jaws having longitudinal slots therein accommodating the screw shanks so that the jaws are held against turning on the latter, spacers on the screws between the jaws and the plate, nuts threaded for adjustment on the screw shanks, and coil springs mounted under tension on the screws between the nuts and the jaws for yielding urging said jaws into engagement with the flange of the plu ERNEST J. LACHANCE. 

